The Rural Tourism Symposium this week in Orangeville brought together tourism organizations and businesses.

The idea behind it is to raise the profile of rural tourism.

Headwaters Tourism Handed out their annual awards Tuesday evening at the Orangeville Town Hall Opera House.

There were 12 awards handed out, two categories were tied.

Here are the winners:

Best Arts and Heritage Visitor Experience - Dragonfly Arts on Broadway

Best Fresh and Local Visitor Experience - Snowberry Botanicals

Best Fun and Festive Visitor Experience (tie) - Caribfest (Soulyve), Mud Hero Toronto North

Best Nature & Leisure Visitor Experience - Seven Bridges Run

Best Horse and Country Visitor Experience - Grand River RAM Rodeo, Grand Valley

Best See, Shop & Stay Visitor Experience (tie) -  Millcroft Inn and Spa,  Wicked Shortbread

Best New Tourism Business - Alabaster Acres

Tourism Innovator of the Year - Credit Valley Conservation (Island Lake Amphitheatre)

Tourism Partnership Award - Lavender Blue Catering

Tourism Champion of the Year - Phillip DeWar (Soulyve)